碳水化合物
tànshuǐ huàhéwù
The Mandarin word for carbohydrates is 碳水化合物 (tànshuǐ huàhéwù).
碳水化合物 is the formal scientific and nutritional term used in textbooks, medical contexts and official food labeling to describe organic compounds found in foods like grains and fruits that provide the body with energy.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a literal translation of its chemical components: 碳 means carbon, 水 means water and 化合物 means compound.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
碳水化合物 is the formal way to say 'carbohydrates'. In casual conversation or when discussing diet, people often shorten the term to the informal 碳水.
How do you pronounce it?
tànshuǐ huàhéwù
Did you know?
- If you are talking about 'low-carb' diets, you will often see the term 低碳 (low carbon). This is a linguistic coincidence where the word for 'low carbohydrate' is identical to the term for 'low carbon' emissions in environmental science.
- In modern Chinese fitness and diet culture, 碳水 is often used as a shorthand for 'sugar' or 'starchy foods' specifically, rather than the broad scientific category of all carbohydrates.
- While 碳水 is a shortening of 'carbohydrates', it literally translates to 'carbon water'. In a chemistry lab, this could be confusing because it sounds more like a description of a solution than a macronutrient.
Examples in context
- 你对复合碳水化合物有什么了解吗？Do you know anything about complex carbohydrates?This sentence is useful for asking about knowledge of complex carbohydrates using 碳水化合物.Tatoeba #6799701 by basilhan, translation #319863 by CK
- 这种水果含有很多碳水化合物。Zhè zhǒng shuǐguǒ hányǒu hěnduō tànshuǐ huàhéwù.This kind of fruit contains a lot of carbohydrates.
- 我们要减少摄入碳水化合物。Wǒmen yào jiǎnshǎo shèrù tànshuǐ huàhéwù.We need to reduce our intake of carbohydrates.
Example conversation
At a gym, discussing a new diet plan.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你最近在减肥吗？Nǐ zuìjìn zài jiǎnféi ma?Are you losing weight lately?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen是的，我在减少碳水化合物的摄入。Shì de, wǒ zài jiǎnshǎo tànshuǐ huàhéwù de shèrù.Yes, I am reducing my intake of carbohydrates.
- 志强 Zhiqiang那要注意营养均衡。Nà yào zhùyì yíngyǎng jūnhéng.Then you should pay attention to nutritional balance.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我会注意的，谢谢志强。Wǒ huì zhùyì de, xièxiè Zhìqiáng.I will be careful, thanks Zhiqiang.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
